Dutch queen to abdicate for son

Queen Beatrix and her son Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.

Reuters: Robin Utrecht

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has announced she will abdicate in favour of her son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, at the end of April after 33 years in power.

"It is with the greatest of confidence that I will hand over the throne on April 30 to my son, Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange," she told national television, using the official title of the heir apparent.

The queen, who turns 75 on Thursday, said her birthday and the 200th anniversary of the monarchy "were the reason for me to step down".

"I'm standing down not because public service is too heavy for me, but because of the belief that responsibility for our country should be in the hands of a new generation," she said.